I am a biochemist / molecular biologist with 10 years of experience in blood cell biochemistry (erythrocytes and platelets), in-vitro cultivation of primary erythroid progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. During my diploma thesis and PhD thesis in the laboratory of Rainer Prohaska, my research was focused on the biochemical and cell biological investigation of stomatin family proteins. These enigmatic membrane micro-domain associated proteins are involved in cholesterol homeostasis and vesicular trafficking. After my PhD thesis, I joined the Laboratory of Andrea Kolbus at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2007 to work on primary hematopoietic / erythroid progenitor cells from cord blood in the EC-funded project CRYSTAL (Cryopreservation of Stem Cells for Therapeutical Application). For the EC-funded project HYPERLAB, we are currently trying to optimize current protocols for the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. We have long-standing experience and local collaborations in the cultivation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells in-vitro. In addition, we have established methods to transiently or stably interfere with gene expression in primary erythroid cells (by electroporation or lentiviral transduction). Our well-equipped laboratory is located at the General Hospital of Vienna, which gives us access to all core facilities (Cell Sorting, Tissue Imaging, Gene Expression, Proteomics) of the Medical University of Vienna.